Lake Agnes: the tea house above Lake Louise
A moderate trail, a mountain lake, and tea served as it was a century ago.
Lake Agnes lies in Banff National Park beneath towering peaks, 3.9 km (2.4 mi) and 495 m (1,624 ft) above Lake Louise; the tea house stands on its shore. The trail starts at the Lake Louise Lakeshore parking lot; Parks Canada estimates 2.5 to 3 hours return and rates it moderate.
From Lake Agnes, two short side trips continue: up the Big Beehive, looking down on the lake and the hotel, and up the Little Beehive, once the site of a fire lookout.
If you want more, the Highline Trail links it with the second tea house at the Plain of Six Glaciers to form a 14.3 km (8.9 mi) loop of about 5 hours.
Parks Canada: hiking trails in Banff National Park, Lake Louise area (accessed 4 October 2026) ↗
In numbers
- From Lake Louise Lakeshore
- 3.9 km (2.4 mi)
- Elevation gain
- 495 m (1,624 ft)
- Return
- 2.5–3 hrs
- Tea house elevation
- 2,135 m (7,005 ft)
- Big Beehive from Lake Agnes
- 1.5 km, +150 m (492 ft)
- Little Beehive from Lake Agnes
- 0.9 km, +65 m (213 ft)
- Loop via the Highline Trail
- 14.3 km, about 5 hrs
- Tea house open
- 8:00 to 16:00
- Serving tea since
- 1905
